Jim Peko

Executive summary

Jim Peko is the CEO of Grant Thornton Advisors LLC and leads the multinational platform it established in January 2025, with additional oversight as CEO of the platform's Americas region.

He oversees Grant Thornton’s Executive Committee — setting strategic direction and driving growth-oriented operations across more than 65 offices. Under Peko’s leadership, Grant Thornton has announced transactions with more than a half-dozen accounting and consulting firms to join its platform. These firms stretch from the Americas across Europe to the Middle East. Additionally, Peko has led Grant Thornton as it acquires leading specialty firms, including business-modernization pioneer Auxis — and Stax, which specializes in commercial due diligence and value creation.

Peko previously served as the firm’s chief operating officer (COO). Prior to his role as COO, he served as national managing principal of the firm’s Advisory Services practice.

He has nearly 30 years of experience providing clients with financial advisory services focused on improving performance and building long-term sustainable value. Earlier in his career, Peko was the national managing principal of Transaction Services, where he guided a wide range of clients through a variety of complex transactions. He also served as a member of the firm’s Partnership Board and is currently a member of the board of directors for the American Bankruptcy Institute. He is a chartered financial analyst, a certified insolvency and restructuring advisor and is certified in distressed business valuation. Peko received an MBA degree in finance from Fordham University and a bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting from St. Peter’s College.

In 2013, Peko was selected for the “‘Turnarounds & Workouts’ People to Watch – Business Professionals Making Their Mark” award. Consulting magazine named him a “Top 25 Consultant” for 2018, citing his “Excellence in Leadership.”

Professional qualifications and memberships

• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA)
• Certification in Distressed Business Valuation (CDBV)
• FINRA General Securities Registered Representative, Series 7
• FINRA Investment Banking Representative, Series 79
• FINRA General Securities Principal, Series 24
• FINRA Uniform Securities Agent State Law exam, Series 63
• Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors
• CFA Institute
• Turnaround Management Association

Presentations and publications

• Author, “Key Consideration in Restructuring a Gaming Company,” American Bankruptcy Institute, Financial Advisors Committee Newsletter, January 2010.
• Co-author, “Eyeing the Pile-up: Subprime Mortgage Industry,” American Bankruptcy Institute, Finance and Banking e-Newsletter, August 2007.
• Co-author, “Have Recent Bankruptcy Code Amendments Materially Affected Case Strategy?” Daily Bankruptcy Review, April 12, 2006.
• Co-author, “Maximizing Recoveries for Unsecured Creditors,” Daily Bankruptcy Review Small Cap, June 29, 2005.

Education

• MBA, Finance, Fordham University
• BS, Economics, Accounting, St. Peter’s College